AbstractIn the future, flexibility will become an important factor for competitiveness. However, as company structures change, so also do value-adding structures alter. Future production structures must therefore allow for continuous alterations in planning and configuration. This task cannot be mastered using traditional planning methods. A possible solution is the use of system technology for structuring companies. Furthermore, by de-centralizing and self-organizing performance units and by networking production right up to virtual enterprises, a closer proximity to costumer can be achieved.